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Friday, August 5, 2016

Looking for summer fruit

Recently, this Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) has been visiting our backyard in search of fruit, especially nectarines.

Although it might be hard to tell from the picture, this is a small Opossum, with a body length (not including the tail) of only about 6-7 inches. From information we can find, an Opossum this size is about 5-6 months old, and probably left its mother fairly recently.

A few Opossum facts:

- Opossums are currently the only marsupial found in the United States, but millions of years ago there were many other types of marsupials living here.

- Amazingly, when an Opossum is born, it's only ~14 mm long (smaller than a dime)!

- An Opossum spends ~1-2 months in its mother's pouch, and then another 1-2 months hanging on to her back.

2 comments:

Although a lot of people don't think so, I think that possums are pretty cute. I once had a little guy spend a few nights in my house until I started closing the kitty door at 4 in the afternoon. He/she really made himself/herself at home!!